Clue HQ Somerton: Detonation!

NerdsEsacpe rated this:

Played: 8 Mar 2024 Team size: 2 Time taken: 50:39 Outcome: Successful escape!

great hostingillogicalquite difficult

Theming was okay. Lots of padlocks and key code locks (which we prefer and enjoy), alongside puzzles. One of the puzzle boxes needed intervention by our great game master due an issue. The room didn’t quite flow as nicely as other ones. Overall, it was an okay room and we will be returning to attempt the other rooms

puzzlepalooza experienced rated this:

A game that belongs in 2016 and should really be replaced.

TheCLAMS expert rated this:

Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!

It was okay - one of the locks hadn't been reset and so the game host had to come in mid way through which really broke the immersion of being locked in.

arandzom experienced rated this:

Played: 17 Dec 2016 Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!

reviewed in Wirral

MerseyMarauders expert rated this:

great hostingquite easy

David Dorward rated this:

Played: 22 Oct 2021 Outcome: Failed 🙁

SupertrampEcho experienced rated this:

Outcome: Successful escape!

cleverimmersivestory-driven

reviewed in Blackpool

Anonymous rated this:

Played: 9 Aug 2015 Team size: 3 Outcome: Successful escape!

abunai expert rated this:

Sam Carr experienced rated this:

Team size: 3 Outcome: Successful escape!

great hostingoverpricedplain

reviewed in Blackpool

Mark Greenhalgh expert rated this:

Played: 04/12/15

reviewed in Wirral

Anonymous rated this:

Played: 2018 Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!

I believe every companies have their very own different style of escape room and Clue HQ has very distinctive atmosphere and type of clues, either you are in Warrington or in Liverpool. We escaped Detonation in July 2018 with a crew of 4 members and we had a lot of fun. The ending is suprising and effective but I regretted that the host helped us maybe a bit too much specifically on the very last clue. The room itself is quite small so I would not recommend it for more that 4 people, but quite enjoyable really!

reviewed in Coventry

🔐James Bloodworth expert rated this:

Played: 08/02/2020 Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!

Typical Clue HQ padlock fest but a fun well flowing room as you try and escape Danny Badd's trap, lot of fun and almost ideal for beginners.

Scotus0 expert rated this:

Played: 27/05/2019 Team size: 5 Time taken: 50:17 Outcome: Successful escape!

Chasing Crooks

Another escape with family, and my mother's first, though she was only in it for the photo at the end!

Story

Having received intel on notorious criminal Danny Badd's current location, try to catch him...but don't get blown up. 'Danny Badd' seems to be a recurring character throughout Clue HQ's games.

Puzzles

Easy-peasy, though there was one physical challenge that was practically impossible. I was applying a lot of knowledge from my past escapes, and so none of the puzzles here felt all that original. A hint was needed for the final challenge, but it was a 'blink and you miss it' kind of moment.

Mise-en-scène

I'm not sure where we were actually supposed to be. 'Rooms with puzzles in' is accurate, so don't expect to be transported to a criminal mastermind's hideout.

Final Comments

Nothing to write home about. An ideal room for newbies.

Jose Adrian experienced rated this:

Played: Team size: 2 Time taken: Outcome: Successful escape!

Reviews by escape room review sites

A room that won’t blow you away (no pun intended) and is very padlock heavy, but if your observational skills are on point then you’ll likely have a good time.

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Many of Clue HQ's games share a recurring villain by the name of Danny Badd, and Detonation's premise is straightforward: you're trapped in a building that this scoundrel has rigged to blow up. Fortunately, he's a villain with a sense of sportsmanship, and has given you an hour to get out before the bomb goes off.

If the modern setting makes Detonation sound more dull than some of Clue HQ's other games, that's misleading: smoke and flashing lights amp up the drama, and of course there's little ...

reviewed in Wirral

Outside the room So, we'd just come out of Bunker 38 with plenty of time to spare and were chomping at the bit to try Clue HQ Brentwood‘s other room. First though, they had to reset them, so the nine of us were sat in the waiting area without much to do (we couldn't even talk about
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7.5 / 10

We were soon on our way and as with all Clue HQ games, there was a variety of mental, physical and observational puzzles and plenty to keep us all busy. There were some things that we had not seen before and a couple of custom made objects which were a nice touch.

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Not the most elegant of rooms you'll play, but looks OK, some good puzzles, but also some bits which were easily overlooked, the first half of the room definitely looked more impressive than the second half, user error with a pretty ancient tv/dvd player meant that one code couldn't be learned in the desired way. A quirky game that felt a bit dated now and could do with a revamp.